MELBOURNE TO KING ISLAND

Welcome to our fabulous holiday to King Island and Flinders Island. With chauffeured pickup from home, we travel to Melbourne Airport. Here we’ll be greeted by an O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours representative who will assist us with check in and see us onto the plane for our direct mid-afternoon flight to King Island. King Island lies off the north-west coast of Tasmania, surrounded by a rugged coastline with famously good produce and some of the cleanest air in the world. On arrival we will be met by our local guide. After a guided tour of the main township of Currie, we check in to our accommodation and greeted by the manager, Julie. This evening, one of King Island’s best chefs will prepare our welcome dinner in-house tonight.

Lunch at own expense and arrangement / Refreshments on flight

OVERNIGHT:  Island Breeze Resort, Currie, KING ISLAND

REEKARA, MARTHA LAVINIA, CAPE WICKHAM, PENGUINS

Today, our touring takes us to the northern end of the island. We stop at the Shag Lagoon Bird Hide to view some of King Island’s beautiful water fowl, before continuing to Reekara School. The Reekara Community Complex is a Lions Club initiative designed to preserve the former Reekara Primary School, which closed at the end of 1997. The school now houses local craft as well as classrooms showing past students’ artwork. We have plenty of time to look around as well as enjoying our morning tea break. Next we drive to Quarantine Bay while taking in the views of Christmas Island and New Year Island. From here, we cross to the eastern side of the island where we visit Martha Lavinia Beach, a world class beach break which has been voted one of the Top 10 Surf Breaks in Australia. We’ll get a chance to stretch our legs here. We also see the mouth of Yellow Rock River, the wreck site of the Shannon to hear Captain Johnson’s unfortunate story. Our lunch break is at Penny’s Lagoon, a rare freshwater perched lake found in only three locations in the world. Continue past Lake Flannigan and Disappointment Bay to the most northern point of King Island to view the Cape Wickham Lighthouse, the tallest granite lighthouse in the Southern Hemisphere which overlooks one of Australia’s top ranking golf courses. Back in Currie, we have time to freshen up before dinner at a local restaurant. Later this evening we will have the opportunity to view the local fairy penguin colony from the comfort of our coach. On dusk, the penguins waddle out of the water to return to their burrows.

OVERNIGHT: Island Breeze Resort, Currie, KING ISLAND

NARACOOPA, CALCIFIED FOREST, GRASSY

Our journey today takes us to the east coast where we visit Sea Elephant River, one of the island's largest river system and major link to the Lavinia wetlands. We return to the farming region of Naracoopa for a brief stop to look at the jetty. We now head to the southern end of the island. As we pass by Surprise Bay, we learn of the history of the island's first settlement in 1889 by the Bowling family. Visit a very rare forest with views over some of King Island’s most spectacular coastline which has had a chequered history, including the worst peacetime maritime disaster in Australia’s history when in 1884 the British barquentine “schooner” Cataraqui was wrecked in a winter storm. We now move onto the Calcified Forest enjoying a leisurely stroll that takes us to a viewing platform overlooking intriguing fossilised stumps of ancient rainforest trees. At Seal Rocks Lookout, we discover one of King Island’s most dramatic parts of the coast, used by Dutch and French sealer’s to spot pods of seals. Make sure to bring your camera! Last stop today is Grassy where we discover the scheelite mining heritage of King Island’s Dolphin Mine. We also view the Grassy Harbour which serves the island with the necessities of life—groceries, fuel and agricultural needs such as fertilisers and stock feed. On arrival back at our accommodation there will be time for a freshen up before transferring to a local restaurant for dinner.

OVERNIGHT: Island Breeze Resort, Currie, KING ISLAND

CURRIE HARBOUR, KELP AND CHEESE, FLIGHT TO TASMANIA

We begin the day with a visit to the museum in the former lightkeeper's cottage, run by the King Island Historical Society. The museum is full of the island's history including the original lens from the Cape Wickham Lighthouse. Morning tea is at the interesting little boatshed on the shores of Currie Harbour, known as the "Restaurant Without Food". Next stop is to the iconic King Island Kelp Industries where we learn about one of the island's important industries.  In the afternoon, stop at King Island Dairy to sample some of the delicious cheese. With a legacy spanning more than 100 years, King Island Dairy has developed an enviable reputation as a maker of some of the world’s finest produce. From here, we make our way to the King Island Airport for our flight to Burnie Airport. On arrival, we transfer to our overnight accommodation in Devonport.

OVERNIGHT: Novotel Devonport, DEVONPORT

DEVONPORT - FLIGHT FROM LAUNCESTON TO FLINDERS ISLAND

After breakfast, we drive past fertile farmland and historic villages to reach Launceston Airport. Fly over the many of the islands of the Furneaux Group to Flinders Island. Here we will discover an inspiring world of sparkling beaches, rugged ranges, abundant wildlife and flora, and clear sapphire waters. On arrival, we will be met by our tour operator and taken to our accommodation.

OVERNIGHT:  Furneaux Tavern, Lady Barron, FLINDERS ISLAND

CASTLE ROCK - KILLIECRANKIE BAY - WYBALENNA

Today we explore the northern end of the island and pause at the photogenic Castle Rock. Enjoy morning tea at North East River, which is a favourite spot for local fishermen, before touring to Palana, site of coastal surveillance at the start of World War Two. Stroll along beautiful Killiecrankie Bay keeping an eye out for the famous Killiecrankie diamonds. After lunch, we visit the small but interesting Furneaux Museum which contains a wonderful collection of records and exhibits of the island’s natural history, maritime heritage and island lifestyle, including mementos of stirring days and enterprises. Our last visit for the day is at Wybalenna, a small settlement established in 1833-1847 to house Tasmanian Aboriginal people brought to Flinders Island by George Robinson. Today, the only remaining building is the red brick chapel which has been restored by the National Trust and is of national heritage significance.

OVERNIGHT: Furneaux Tavern, Lady Barron, FLINDERS ISLAND

TROUSERS POINT - MT STRZELECKI - CAMERONS INLET

This morning, follow the Coast Road to Fotheringate Bay where we will have a chance to explore the beaches and have morning tea. Stop at the beautiful Trousers Point with Mt. Strzelecki’s towering granite crags forming a backdrop to the pristine half-moon beach. Have your cameras ready for this famous, photogenic area. After lunch, we visit Walkers Lookout which provides extensive views over the island. Drive past Cameron’s Inlet, breeding ground for black swans and many species of duck before finishing the day exploring the town of Lady Barron.

OVERNIGHT:  Furneaux Tavern, Lady Barron, FLINDERS ISLAND

HEADING HOME

For our last morning on Flinders Island, we will spend time in the main town of Whitemark. Have a look around the town; enjoy a coffee at the local café, or visit the local shops to discover a hidden gem before an early lunch. Late morning, we return to the Flinders Island Airport for our flight home. Upon arrival at Essendon Airport, our chauffeurs will be waiting to transport us home with many interesting stories to tell of our beautiful Islands adventure.